ARTICLES


Not Acting Your Age: Playing Older or Younger Than You Are
Backstage Feature - November 14, 2003
Featuring Anna Payumo


... While males are occasionally needed in these situations, it is more common that a female role will be cast this way. Two actresses, Darcy Miller and Anna Payumo, have had recent experiences playing younger female roles, with successful and surprising results...

... Anna Payumo just finished playing a straight-laced teen in Eric Alter's comic play "Sex," and an even younger girl in Wendy Wasserstein's "Tender Offer." Payumo states, "My character of Lissa in 'Sex' was seven years younger, and Lisa in 'Tender Offer' was a whopping 12 years younger. I was 21 years old when I played both parts; Lissa was 14, and Lisa was 9."

The actress utilized movement to transform into the youthful roles. "When I played Lisa in 'Tender Offer,' I had to do a little dance routine because my character had just finished a ballet recital. I did a little research—watching old videos of my own ballet recitals when I was younger and studying how I used to move. Also, Lisa was very restless and fidgety, so I just thought about how every kid acts when you see them in the supermarket or at the mall with their parents, wanting desperately to go play or visit the toy store."

Mental preparation was equally crucial to Payumo's credible performances. "I try to think about my character and what she is going through from the point of view of someone of that age. I try to remember what it was like being that age and going through similar experiences. Also, I observe other kids around that age group—their speech, their movements, and their actions."

Not content to play young girls, the actress also portrayed a much older character. "I played Mae in a play called 'Now I Lie.' She was actually a 60-year-old woman. Her age, added to the fact that she was crazy, made things a bit more difficult. I didn't want to do the whole generic old lady voice and slouch-my-body-over thing, so I kind of mirrored my character with how my grandmother is. She is in her 70s, and although she moves much slower than she used to and her speech is slower and more deliberate, she still stands and walks erect."

Her advice to other actors is inspiring and insightful. "Do as much research and observation as you can when playing older roles, but don't lose sight of the fact that every character has a story behind him or her, and let that story and the character's motivations be the ultimate driving force of your portrayal. When playing younger, remember that we've all been that age at some point or another, so it's not like you have to go into it completely blind. Do research, study kids of that age, but, again, don't get too caught up in stereotypes. Every character is different and has a different story, so let that steer the way you act the character out."